Oakland natural gas fire out

Updated 4:58 pm, Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. is investigating why an underground natural gas line ruptured Tuesday in an Oakland neighborhood, causing flames to shoot through the pavement near homes.

The fire was reported about 8:30 a.m. near Golf Links Road and Fontaine Street and was out a little more than three hours later, authorities said. The area was cordoned off as firefighters responded and evacuated six homes, but no injuries were reported.

PG&E initially said the break was in a 4-inch steel line about 6 feet beneath the road, but officials said later that they hadn't ruled out the possibility that the problem was with one of two connecting lines.

"Now that the gas is shut off, we're now turning to the investigation phase so we can prevent something like this from happening in the future," said PG&E spokeswoman Brittany Chord.

Gas was shut off to 19 homes in the area and 20 were without water, firefighters said. Service was expected to be restored by the end of the day.

James Gouig, 36, said the fire erupted outside his house, with flames extending from cracks in the street to his lawn. He said he "tried to be a hero" by dousing the flames with a hose but realized that "it didn't look right" and called 911.

Photo: Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

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Fire crews work on a gas fire at Golf Links Road and Fontaine Street in Oakland on Tuesday.

Fire crews work on a gas fire at Golf Links Road and Fontaine Street in Oakland on Tuesday.

Photo: Paul Chinn / The Chronicle

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An underground vault was spewing flames after catching fire in Oakland.

An underground vault was spewing flames after catching fire in Oakland.

Photo: CBS San Francisco

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PG&E workers monitor the fire, which caused no injuries but put a scare into nearby residents.

PG&E workers monitor the fire, which caused no injuries but put a scare into nearby residents.

Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle

Oakland natural gas fire out

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"I immediately thought of the whole San Bruno thing," Gouig said, referring to the deadly rupture of a larger PG&E natural gas line in 2010. "It's pretty scary."

The line beneath the Oakland street carries gas at a pressure of 40 pounds per square inch, said Battalion Chief Lisa Baker of the Oakland Fire Department. The transmission line that exploded in San Bruno was 30 inches in diameter and had a pressure of nearly 400 pounds per square inch.

PG&E officials said three lines being investigated as the possible source of Tuesday's leak were last inspected in April 2012. Two lines made of steel were installed in 1946 and 1965, and a third plastic line was installed in 1987.

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